Verified against the official pages on October 17, 2026.
The boats on the American-side tour changed from diesel to electric in 2019 and 2020. This page covers what the company says and what a trade publication adds. For the ride itself, see the Maid of the Mist guide.
What the company says
Maid of the Mist's history page says that on May 3, 2019 it announced two emission-free vessels, and that two fully electric boats launched in 2020. The 2026 season press release says the James V. Glynn was christened in 2020 and names the pair as the James V. Glynn and the Nikola Tesla. The FAQ says two 600-passenger boats operate. Secondary sources (Wikipedia and Baird Maritime) repeat a company claim that these are the first emission-free vessels of their kind in the US; we have not checked that independently.
Specifications (secondary source)
The only detailed technical source we found is a 2021 vessel review by Baird Maritime, a trade publication. These figures are secondary and may not match the operator's own.
| Item | Baird Maritime (May 4, 2021) |
|---|---|
| Type | Aluminium catamaran, two decks |
| Passengers and crew | 600 passengers, crew of 6 |
| Length overall and beam | 90.5 ft and 34.3 ft |
| Builder | Burger Boat Co., Manitowoc, Wisconsin, with final assembly at Maid's Buffalo dry dock |
| Batteries | Two lithium-ion packs, 316 kWh total |
| Charging | About 7 minutes shore charging |
| Speed | 8 knots in service, 11 knots maximum |
What came before
The company's history page lists earlier boats with capacities: Maid II (1956 to 1983) 101 passengers, III (1972 to 1997) 210, IV (1976 to 2013) 300, V (1983 to 2013) 300, VI (1990 to 2019) and VII (1997 onward) up to 462. Baird says the electric pair replaced the diesel Maid VI (1990) and VII (1997). The official history page still shows VII as '1997 onward', so the two do not fully agree on VII. Sources also number the older boats inconsistently, so we do not publish a full numbered roster. For more, see the history of Niagara Falls boat tours.
What it means on board
Only what is sourced: the tour is 20 minutes, boats leave every 15 minutes, they carry up to 600 passengers, and they run rain or shine. The company's materials say the boats are emission-free. We found no sourced statement about quieter engines, different speed or any change in how close the boat gets, so we do not claim one. Whether a visitor notices a difference is not something we can report from the sources. Read do you get wet for what the operator does say.
Correcting the VII and VIII confusion
If you see the current boats called 'Maid of the Mist VII and VIII', that is not supported. The 2026 press release names the boats as the James V. Glynn and the Nikola Tesla, and no source we read gives a VIII. Maid VII was a diesel boat from 1997. If you see VII or VIII in a review, it is likely out of date. The Canadian-side boats are an entirely different pair; see Niagara City Cruises.
Quick timeline
- May 3, 2019Plan announcedTwo emission-free vessels, per the company history page.
- 2020Launch and christeningCompany says two fully electric boats launched; James V. Glynn christened in 2020.
- May 4, 2021Trade reviewBaird Maritime publishes its vessel review with the specifications above.
- 2026141st seasonBoth boats carry America250 decals; the season ends November 8.
The debut dates conflict a little: one report cited early October 2020, which we could not confirm, and another source suggested a 2021 announcement. Compare this with the catamarans at Niagara City Cruises.
Frequently asked questions
Are the Maid of the Mist boats electric?
Yes. The 2026 press release describes two all-electric boats, the James V. Glynn and the Nikola Tesla, and the company's history page says two fully electric boats launched in 2020. The company announced the plan on May 3, 2019. Specifications beyond that come from a secondary source, Baird Maritime.
What are the electric Maid of the Mist boats called?
James V. Glynn and Nikola Tesla. Numbered names such as Maid of the Mist VII belong to the diesel-era boats. No source we found names a VIII.
How many passengers do the electric boats carry?
The operator's FAQ says two 600-passenger boats operate, and Baird Maritime also gives 600 passengers on two decks. The 2026 press release does not state a capacity. Actual numbers on board on a given day are not published.
When did the electric boats start carrying passengers?
The company says two fully electric boats launched in 2020, and the 2026 press release says the James V. Glynn was christened in 2020. Baird Maritime's May 2021 review says the pair had recently taken delivery. Sources differ, so we use '2020 christening' for the James V. Glynn only.
How are the boats charged?
Baird Maritime, a secondary source, says each boat has lithium-ion batteries totalling 316 kWh across two packs and about 7 minutes of shore charging. The operator pages we read did not publish charging details. Treat the figure as reported, not confirmed by the company.
Do electric boats change the ride?
The operator pages we read did not publish any claim about noise, speed or mist differences, and the tour is still 20 minutes. The company says the vessels are emission-free. Any comparison of noise or comfort would be our guess, so we do not make one.
Sources and further reading
- Maid of the Mist: 2026 season press release
- Maid of the Mist: history
- Maid of the Mist: FAQ
- Baird Maritime: Maid of the Mist electric boats
- Baird Maritime: Maid of the Mist unveils names of two newest boats
- Niagara Falls State Park: Maid of the Mist
Facts were last checked against these sources on October 17, 2026. Operator schedules, prices and conditions change; confirm with the operator before you travel.